Special effect apparatus

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a special effect apparatus for virtually creating various disastrous situations in scenes of movies shown at 4D theaters, and more particularly, to a special effect apparatus which can maximize vividness and reality in scenes of movies by providing visual effects similar to actual scenes when the scenes of movies shows various disasters, fire, a volcano erupting, war, sparks, a flash of light, bomb terrorism, and the likes. The special effect apparatus includes: a smoke generator for generating smoke; and a porous plate which has a plurality of holes through which smoke passes, and which has a predetermined pattern formed by a plurality of the holes, wherein the smoke generated from the smoke generator is emitted through the porous plate, such that a smoke effect can be provided by creating smoke into a form that is suitable for a specific scene in a movie.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a special effect apparatus for virtually creating various disastrous situations in scenes of movies shown at 4D theaters, and more particularly, to a special effect apparatus which can maximize audiences' immersion in the movies by showing visual effects similar to actual scenes when the scenes in the movies show various disasters, such as fire, a volcano erupting, war, bomb terrorism, and the likes.

BACKGROUND ART

In general, theaters are divided into first-run theaters for showing general movies, special image theaters installed in places for a purpose of amusement, such as theme parks, exhibition theaters for purposes of education or advertisement, such as museums, public relations centers, and business exhibition halls. Moreover, values or fun of movies including film dramas and documentary films, which are shown in most of theaters are evaluated by completion of the films or movies, namely, scenarios in which writers' ideas are expressed, the level of planning, acting ability of actors, constructed sets and screen construction, and others. In most cases, because movies transfer the contents of the movies to audiences utilizing only sight and hearing out of the five senses, a chance that the audiences can immerse in the movie more and interact in the movie by participating in the movie and reacting to the movie in the situation of a main character of the movie has been very limited.

In the meantime, recently, with a spread of digital media capable of two-way communication of signals and with restoration of movie industry, possibility of the movie market of a new form is on the rise. Recently, not only two-dimensional images but also three-dimensional movies which show the same contents as the two-dimensional movies but show more increased reality using a stereoradiographic apparatus when the movies are made are opened simultaneously, and theaters specialized in three-dimensional movies are springing up. Moreover, 4D theaters in which physical interactive chairs having vibrating devices are installed in such a way as to vibrate by an automatic control in interlock with middle and low sounds in a movie so that audiences can experience deep sounds are also springing up (Refer to Korean Utility Model Registration No. 0362923). Furthermore, in order to make audiences feel reality more, a method for providing environment that audiences can immerse in movies by stimulating the audiences' sense of smell by generating special effects according to image signals after various special effect signals are applied to image signals has been proposed. Additionally, also in the cases of exhibition images and advertisement images shown in museums and corporate exhibition halls, rather than documentary and arrange type contents focused on delivery of fact, play films which properly utilize three-dimensional images or specially visual effects of computer graphics through a scenario such that audiences can immerse in the films or images and naturally obtain knowledge after watching the films or images are gradually increasing.

Therefore, differently from conventional methods depending on sight and hearing, in order to reflect psychology of people who want unique and various experiences, the need of study on method for showing an environment effect similar to the contents of a movie using touch out of the five senses, namely, by simply stimulating the bodies of the audiences to the degree not to cloud the audiences' pleasure so that the audiences have more fun with the films or images and can immerse in the films or images is on the rise. Additionally, efforts to effectively transfer contents of films or images to audiences have been made from various angles.

DISCLOSURE Technical Problem

Accordingly, the present invention has been made in an effort to solve the above-mentioned problems occurring in the prior arts, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a special effect apparatus, which generates smoke by operating a smoke generator through a controller, evenly spreads the generated smoke to the inside space of a smoke spraying unit using a suction force of a fan, sprays the smoke in a special shape above the smoke spraying unit through a porous plate having a predetermined pattern, and provides lighting effect to the sprayed smoke through an LED lighting device, thereby showing vividness through visual effects similar to actual disaster situations in movies and maximizing audiences' immersion in the movies.

Technical Solution

To achieve the above objects, the present invention provides a special effect apparatus including: a smoke generator for generating smoke; and a porous plate having a plurality of holes for passing the smoke, a plurality of the holes being arranged in a certain pattern, wherein the smoke generated from the smoke generator is created into a smoke form suitable for a specific situation in a scene of a movie while being emitted through the porous plate.

Here, the special effect apparatus further includes: a smoke spraying unit for introducing the smoke generated from the smoke generator; a fan for evenly spreading the smoke introduced into the smoke spraying unit and emitting out the smoke through the porous plate; and a controller for controlling operations of the smoke generator and the fan.

Moreover, the special effect apparatus further includes lighting means for applying light of a predetermined color to the smoke sprayed through the porous plate so as to provide a lighting effect.

In this instance the lighting means is an LED lighting device.

Furthermore, the porous plate is formed in a honeycomb shape or in a mesh shape.

In this instance, a plurality of the porous plates having a predetermined shape are spaced apart from one another at predetermined intervals, such that a sprayed form of the smoke can be adjusted according to the pattern form of the porous plates.

Additionally, the porous plates are varied in shape, size and thickness of the holes and in intervals between the holes and are formed in a certain pattern, such that the form of the smoke emitted through the porous plates can be adjusted.

Alternatively, using a vertical rise of the smoke passing through the porous plates, the plural porous plates which have different thicknesses may be arranged in a certain pattern so as to control high and low of the emitted smoke according to thickness variation of the porous plates.

In addition, a plurality of the fans are spaced apart from each other at certain intervals or arranged densely under the porous plate.

In this instance, the fan is selectively controlled in rotational speed by the controller.

Furthermore, ON-Off action, color and brightness of the LED lighting device are controlled by the controller.

Advantageous Effects

According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the special effect apparatus can generate smoke by operating a smoke generator through a controller in a specific scene of a movie, gather the generated smoke to the inside space of the smoke spraying unit through a connection tube, evenly spread the gathered smoke to the inside space of the smoke spraying unit using the suction force of the fan, spray the smoke in a special shape above the smoke spraying unit through the porous plate having the predetermined pattern using an air blowing force of the fan, and provide a lighting effect to the smoke by emitting light of a specific color through the LED lighting device, thereby showing vividness and reality through visual effects similar to actual disaster situations in movies, such as fire, a volcano erupting, war, sparks, a flash of light, bomb terrorism, and the likes, and maximizing audiences' immersion in the movies.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a special effect apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an operation mechanism of the special effect device by a controller.

<Explanation of essential reference numerals in drawings> 100: special effect apparatus 110: smoke generator 112: connection tube 120: smoke spraying unit 121: inlet 124: guide 130: fan 140: porous plate 150: LED lighting device 160: controller

MODE FOR INVENTION

Reference will be now made in detail to the preferred embodiment of the present invention with reference to the attached drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a special effect apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a sectional view of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an operation mechanism of the special effect device by a controller.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, the special effect apparatus according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention includes: a smoke generator 110 for generating smoke or fog; a smoke spraying unit 120 for introducing the smoke generated from the smoke generator 110; a fan 130 for evenly spreading and emitting the smoke, which is introduced into the smoke spraying unit 120, above the smoke spraying unit 120; a porous plate 140 mounted on the smoke spraying unit 120 and having a plurality of holes for spraying the smoke emitted from the smoke spraying unit 120 into a special shape; and a controller 160 for controlling operations of the smoke generator 110 and the fan 130.

The smoke generator 110 is a special effect device which can generate smoke or fog, and is generally called a fog machine. Such a smoke generator 110 generates smoke by vaporizing glycerin-based oil contained therein. Because such a smoke generator 110 is commonly used for a special effect on a stage, detailed descriptions on the structure and operation mechanism of the smoke generator will be omitted.

The smoke generator 110 is connected with the controller 160 for generally controlling various special effect devices at 4D theaters and is operated by an operation signal transmitted from the controller 160. For instance, when a special situation, for instance, fire, war, sparks, a flash of light, and the like, while a film is showing at the theater, the smoke generator 110 is operated by the operation signal transmitted from the controller 160 so as to generate smoke.

In the meantime, the smoke spraying unit 120 is a device for spraying smoke by receiving the smoke generated from the smoke generator 110, and is installed at a specific place as far as audiences' eyes can see, such as on the fringe of a screen of the theater or around the audiences, for instance, around chairs. In this instance, besides the rectangular box shape illustrated in FIG. 1, the smoke spraying unit 120 may be formed in various shapes, and may be varied in structure and number according to installation places of the smoke spraying unit 120.

The smoke spraying unit 120 is connected with the smoke generator 110 through a connection tube 112. After the smoke generated from the smoke generator 110 is introduced into the smoke spraying unit 120 through the connection tube 112, the smoke is dispersed by the fan 130, and then, is emitted upwardly through the porous plate 140.

Concretely, a space portion 123 where the smoke provided from the smoke generator 110 remains temporarily is formed inside the smoke spraying unit 120, and a plurality of the fans 130 are mounted under the porous plate 140 located at an upper portion of the smoke spraying unit 120 in order to evenly spread the smoke, which is introduced into the space portion 123 of the smoke spraying unit 120 through an inlet 121, to the inside of the space portion 123 and to evenly disperse and emit the smoke above the smoke spraying unit 120. In this instance, a plurality of the fans 130 are mounted under the porous plate 140 in order to generate wind in the upward direction of the smoke spraying unit 120.

Therefore, when an operation signal is applied to the fans 130 from the controller 160, the fan 130 is operated to generate wind in the upward direction, and then, the smoke is evenly spread to the inside space portion 123 of the smoke spraying unit 120 through a suction forced generated by the fans 130, and the smoke contained in the inside space portion 123 of the smoke spraying unit 120 is evenly dispersed and emitted above the porous plate 140 by an air blowing force of the plural fans 130.

In this instance, as occasion demands, a plurality of fans 130 may be spaced apart from each other at regular intervals or at irregular intervals under the porous plate 140 or may be densely mounted without intervals. Alternatively, just one fan 130 may be mounted inside the inlet 121 of the smoke spraying unit 120 in such a way that an air blowing direction of the fan 130 is the same as the advancing direction of the smoke. As described above, if the fan 130 has the structure that it can evenly spread the generated smoke into the smoke spraying unit 120 and evenly spray the smoke above the smoke spraying unit 120, the number of the fans 130 and the installation position of the fans 130 are not limited to the above but can be changed. Moreover, the plural fans 130 can be selectively controlled in operation and in rotational speed by the controller 160.

Meanwhile, the porous plate 140 mounted at an outlet of the smoke spraying unit 120 is a plate member having a predetermined cross-sectional shape and a plurality of holes. When smoke is emitted above the smoke spraying unit 120 through the small holes formed therein, the porous plate 140 serves to evenly disperse the smoke using the air blowing force of the fan 130. In this instance, the holes formed in the porous plate 140 may be formed in a honeycomb shape, a mesh shape, or one of various shapes.

Furthermore, the holes of the porous plate 140 may form a predetermined pattern by changing the shape or size of the holes or intervals between the holes or an arrangement form of the holes, such that the smoke emitted above the smoke spraying unit 120 through the porous plate 140 can have a special shape similar with an actual situation in a scene of a movie. Alternatively, the porous plate 140 may be a plurality of porous plates having specific forms, and the plural porous plates are arranged at regular intervals in such a way as to form a specific pattern.

Additionally, the plural porous plates 140 which have different thicknesses may be arranged in a certain pattern in such a way as to differ in high and low of the smoke emitted above the smoke spraying unit 120 through the porous plates 140 using a vertical rise of the smoke passing through the porous plates 140, such that a smoke effect similar to the actual situation in the scene of the movie can be provided.

Through the various forms of the porous plates 140, a certain pattern may be formed in the porous plate 140. Therefore, the smoke can be sprayed upwardly through the porous plate 140 into a form of smoke similar with that in a specific situation in the scene of the movie, for instance, fire, a volcano erupting, war, bomb terrorism, and the likes, thereby providing a visual vividness effect similar to the actual scene to audiences.

In this instance, when light of a color suitable for the specific scene in the movie is applied to the smoke sprayed through the porous plate 140, a situation which is almost similar to the actual scene of the movie can be created, and hence, it increases a feeling of reality. For this, guides 124 are mounted at upper portions of the right and left sides of the smoke spraying unit 120, and LED lighting devices 150 are arranged on the inner face of the guides 124 in such a manner that ON-OFF actions, colors and brightness of the LED lighting devices 150 can be controlled by the controller 160. Because a lighting effect of predetermined colors is applied to the smoke sprayed through the porous plate 140 of the smoke spraying unit 120 by the LED lighting devices 150, the special effect apparatus according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention can show a vivid scene similar to the actual scene in the movie.

In this instance, the guides 124 on which the LED lighting devices 150 are mounted serve to prevent that the smoke sprayed above the smoke spraying unit 120 through the porous plate 140 is spread out of the smoke spraying unit 120.

Moreover, the inner faces of the guides 124 on which the LED light devices 150 are mounted are inclined upwardly, such that the lighting effect can be provided to the sprayed smoke to a predetermined height through the LED lighting devices 150. In this instance, in this preferred embodiment, the LED lighting devices 150 are adopted as means for providing the lighting effect to the smoke, but besides the LED lighting devices 150, other lighting devices may be adopted.

Hereinafter, an operation mechanism of the special effect apparatus 100 according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described.

First, in order to provide a smoke effect in a specific scene of a movie, when the operation signal is applied to the special effect apparatus 100 through the controller 160, the smoke generator 110 of the special effect apparatus 100 generates smoke, and the generated smoke is introduced into the smoke spraying unit 120 through the connection tube 112. In this instance, the fans 130 mounted under the porous plate 140 are operated by the operation signal transferred from the controller 160. The fans 130 inhale the smoke gathered around the inlet 121 of the smoke spraying unit 120 to induce the smoke to evenly spread into the smoke spraying unit 120, and then, the smoke is evenly dispersed and sprayed above the smoke spraying unit 120 by the air blowing force of the fans 130. In this process, the smoke is sprayed into the smoke form that is similar with that in a scene of a movie while passing through the porous plate 140 having a certain pattern. When the LED lighting devices 150 provides light of a specific color to the sprayed smoke in order to show the lighting effect, the special effect apparatus according to the present invention can show a visual effect with vividness and reality similar to the actual situation in the scene of the movie. For instance, in order to show a fire scene, when LED lights of red color and yellow color are applied to the smoke form, like fire, sprayed from the smoke spraying unit 120, it can show a fire scene almost similar with the real fire.

The special effect apparatus according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention may be applied to various places, such as cinemas, theme parks, exhibition centers, theaters, and others, and may be used as interior pieces.

As described above, while the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to the preferable embodiment thereof, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment and various changes may be made therein without departing from the technical idea of the present invention. 

1. A special effect apparatus comprising: a smoke generator for generating smoke; and a porous plate having a plurality of holes for passing the smoke, a plurality of the holes being arranged in a certain pattern, wherein the smoke generated from the smoke generator is created into a smoke form suitable for a specific situation in a scene of a movie while being emitted through the porous plate.
 2. The special effect apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a smoke spraying unit for introducing the smoke generated from the smoke generator; a fan for evenly spreading the smoke introduced into the smoke spraying unit and emitting out the smoke through the porous plate; and a controller for controlling operations of the smoke generator and the fan.
 3. The special effect apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: lighting means for applying light of a predetermined color to the smoke sprayed through the porous plate so as to provide a lighting effect.
 4. The special effect apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the lighting means is an LED lighting device.
 5. The special effect apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the porous plate is formed in a honeycomb shape or in a mesh shape.
 6. The special effect apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a plurality of the porous plates having a predetermined shape are spaced apart from one another at predetermined intervals.
 7. The special effect apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the porous plates are varied in shape, size and thickness of the holes and in intervals between the holes and are formed in a certain pattern.
 8. The special effect apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the fan is mounted under the porous plate.
 9. The special effect apparatus according to claim 8, wherein a plurality of the fans are arranged at certain intervals.
 10. The special effect apparatus according to claim 8, wherein a plurality of the fans are arranged densely.
 11. The special effect apparatus according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the fan is selectively controlled in rotational speed by the controller.
 12. The special effect apparatus according to claim 4, wherein ON-Off action, color and brightness of the LED lighting device is controlled by the controller. 